ICUC Easter Trip 2012

I’m sure you’ve all heard a lot about the easter trips! Pictures of the past years’ trips can be found on the website: (http://www.union.ic.ac.uk/rcc/underwater/gallery.php ) But now its time to think of YOUR easter trip and ss all of you know the annual ICUC Easter trip to Porthkerris, Cornwall is soon approaching!

This is where you finish off/continue your training. We spend a week on the Lizard, Cornwall, finally do some diving, socialize and generally have lots and lots of fun. Below is some information so you know what to expect and when.

Dates

This year’s trip will be running from Saturday 31st of March 2012 to Saturday the 7th of April2012.

Food and Accommodation

We will be staying in Sea Acres Caravan Park in 4 x 8 bed static caravans. Bed sheets and linen are provided but you need to bring towels. Two people in each caravan will need to sleep on the couches (surprisingly comfortable) and so will need a sleeping bag.

A couple of people in each caravan will be caravan coordinators, these will be instructors or people who have been on the trip before - so they will know what’s going on and you can ask them as many questions as you like.

Food is organized by each caravan (cooking utensils are provided in the caravans although you may want to bring a few extra) and we organize several trips to the Tesco near Helston (20 minutes away) during the trip. There is also the famous Cornish Pasties available from the shop at Porthkerris!

If you want to be in a caravan with someone please let me know. Also, can you tell me if you have any dietary needs (this includes if you are vegetarian!).

Transport

On the day (Saturday 31st of March) we will leave from Beit Quad. We’ll meet up nice and early (8:00am), pack up the busses and off we go! It takes about six hours to get to Cornwall with a couple of stops on the way (but still – remember to go before we leave!). Diving Woohoo! Diving!

Depending on the weather we will be diving from Porthkerris Beach. Porthkerris is a pebble beach that drops away fairly quickly to make an ideal training site, there is plenty of marine life around the rocks and the visibility is usually good. We will be taking 2 of our boats, probably, ”Icy Diver” and “IceCube” (see photos + info on the website) which will allow us to dive the nearby wreck of the Volnay. Porthkerris has toilets, sheltered changing areas and a hot food van that serves fantastic cheesy chips and pasties.

We will be diving everyday, getting to Porthkerris around 8:30am and leaving towards the end of the afternoon. Initially you will be diving with an instructor but as the week progresses and you finish your qualifications, you will be able to dive with each other and explore the reefs just of the beach.

Also, we will try and dive other sites around the lizard this year, especially towards the end of the week.

What you will need

The following is a list of the dive kit that you need for the trip. Certain items you can borrow from the club (will be allocated nearer the time), other items you provide for yourself (buy or borrow from outside the club).

ICUC will be doing some bulk kit orders from reliable suppliers allowing you to buy some great quality kit at very good prices – keep your eyes on the mailing lists…

Regulator Provided by the club BC Jacket Provided by the club Cylinder Provided by the club for Belt Provided by the club

Diver Computer (or Timer) Need to provide your own Weight Belt Need to provide your own and Booties Need to provide your own Gloves Need to provide your own Mask Need to provide your own Fins Need to provide your own Shears/Knife Need to provide your own Torch Need to provide your own Waterproof Coat Need to provide your own Warm Clothes for beach Need to provide your own Towels Need to provide your own Sleeping Bag Need to provide your own Qualification Book Needs to be your own Kit:

Dive Computer (or Timer)

We recommend that you get a for the trip. A dive computer is a device that keeps a record of depth, max depth and time, etc. It has a built in model that gives you a no-decompression dive time (effectively writing a set of tables like the BSAC tables that matches your ). Before you dive you dive you will plan your dives using your computer. The typical model that we recommend to new divers is the Suunto Zoop (http://www.suunto.com/en/products/Diving/Suunto-Zoop/). This allows both air and use and is a perfect first dive computer and will last you many years.

A slightly cheaper alternative to a dive computer is a dive timer. A dive timer is a device that keeps a record of current depth, max depth and dive time. The model that virtually everyone in the club uses and we recommend is the UWATEC Digital 330M Depth Timer (http://www.scubapro.com/europe/uk/uwatec- products/instruments/instruments/digital-log-330m). If you use a dive timer it is important you bring the BSAC Diving Tables as you will be planning all your dives using them.

Fins

Fins need to be open heeled fins (NOT full foot fins) as they will be worn over booties.

Mask and

When getting a Mask remember what you have been taught in the OD lessons about how to fit a correct mask and make sure you try it on before buying. There’s not need for an expensive snorkel, one with a drain valve on the bottom is useful though.

Booties

When getting booties make sure they are suitable for UK diving (5 or 7.5mm thickness). You will not need these if you get a drysuit.

Weight Belt

Weight Belts are quite straight forward, you don’t need anything fancy, just a normal diving weight belt with a metal buckle. (NB you do NOT need to buy any diving weights for the weight belt)

Diving Gloves and Hood

Gloves should be around 3 or 5mm thick. 3mm is easier to use and have more dexterity while 5mm are warmer.

You will also need a hood which will keep your head nice and warm.

Diving Suits

Your Diving suit needs to be at least a Semi-. A isn’t warm enough to dive in the UK at this time of year. If you know you feel the cold (or want to dive through the winter months as well), you can get a dry-suit.

Shears/Knife

A diving knife, shears or line cutter is needed. It doesn’t have to be a Rambo- style knife, a small diving knife or a pair of trauma shears will do.

Warm Clothes/Waterproof Coat

It can occasionally be wet on a dive trip! Remember we are still in the UK!

We will spend almost the whole day every day based on Porthkerris beach. There is very limited shelter on the beach and you must be prepared for moderate rain (if it’s really bad we’ll head back). It is also quite early in the spring so make sure you wear warm clothes.

Especially if you’re in a semi-dry, it can be quite cold at times spending a couple of hours on the beach between dives. You MUST bring warm and water/windproof clothes to change into for sitting on the beach.

If you are warm when on the surface you will feel MUCH less cold underwater. And having nice warm clothes to change into after a dive is… priceless! J

I recommend you also bring a wool hat and gloves which help you stay toasty.

I hope this short guide helps you prepare for the trip.

If you have any questions about kit - and I’m fairly sure you do – just email or grab one of the instructors or older club members after a theory lecture, at the pool or in the bar and ASK!

Giulia

If you have any other questions just drop me an email. [email protected] or [email protected]